Sunday, May 4, 2008

Jimmy Spencer Faces-Off With "Old DW"

Normally, the SPEED program called Victory Lane appears shortly after the Sprint Cup race is over on Sunday. Recorded live from the Victory Lane area at each track, the show then appears on SPEED at 8PM Eastern Time.

When NASCAR schedules the Sprint Cup race to be held on Saturday, a strange thing happens. SPEED holds the show until the regular time on Sunday night. Fans searching for post-race TV coverage are drawn to ESPNEWS, a network that began covering NASCAR extensively this season. The network provides live coverage of the press conferences from the Infield Media Centers, and has done a solid job this year.

After all the action on Saturday night, fans tuning into Victory Lane on Sunday got a whole lot more than they might have bargained for. Host John Roberts and panelist Kenny Wallace were still stunned by the final turn of events on the track as the program started, but another panelist was ready to speak his mind.

Jimmy Spencer is far removed from his title as "Mr. Excitement." His presence on TV has been an interesting mix of colossal mistakes and fascinating insights. On this Sunday night, Spencer was about to have the best TV show of his entire career.

With Roberts and Wallace at a loss for words about the Busch vs. Earnhardt incident, it was Spencer who stepped right-in and began with a shot at NASCAR on Fox analyst Darrell Waltrip.

"What I heard on Fox was just political correctness. They are trying to make it right. Kyle Busch made a major, major mistake here. This guy (Busch) needs to respect the lead (of the race). He drove in the corner too hard and he took out Dale Junior. I think he went over the line and that is my opinion," said Spencer.

Victory Lane uses hard working Bob Dillner as a reporter. On this show, he delivered great sound with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and pushed him a bit on-camera. After Earnhardt delivered a patient answer about the incident, Dillner asked him about some additional team radio comments about Kyle Busch.

Junior responded "you just put words in my mouth trying to start some crap." Earnhardt then followed it up with what is destined to be a classic. "If I want to talk to Kyle I have to get in line," said Junior. Dillner has been outstanding on this series, and his ability to get in the media crunch and come out with the story was on display again Sunday night.

Spencer was on a roll, and he continued with his analysis of exactly what happened with Busch and Earnhardt. Spencer spoke directly to the fans in very plain and simple terms. He broke things down to the basics.

"He (Busch) overshot the corner. He drove in maybe fifty or seventy-five feet too far. Junior gave him the room that he needed and Kyle took too much. That is for me, disrespect for your fellow competitor. He just did not respect Junior enough to back down a little bit," stated Spencer.

It was Bob Dillner's turn again, and this time he had Kyle Busch exclusively for SPEED. Dillner set the table, and let Busch comment on the entire incident and what led up to the contact. Busch half-jokingly said this night might have ruined his career. Dillner allowed Busch to talk, and then asked him what he might have done differently. His answer was simple, just go into the corner a bit lower.

This was Victory Lane giving both drivers an opportunity to speak to the issue. It was also a perfect opportunity for Spencer to sum-up his thoughts. Spencer's point was easy to understand. In Busch's interview he spoke to many topics, but never apologized to Dale Junior for effectively ending his night.

"He is a talented driver and the sport needs him," said Spencer. "He will heal from this, he will win more races, he will contend for the championship. He just has to learn a little bit more maturity."

Kenny Wallace then said this could be the turning point in Kyle Busch's career. It was Busch himself with Dillner who suggested he might have ruined his career with that one move and the subsequent accident.

From start-to-finish, this show belonged to Jimmy Spencer. Love him or hate him, this is the role that SPEED hired him to fill. He provides analysis based on his many years in several forms of racing, and then adds-in a unique opinion that is often the most memorable of all the NASCAR racing analysts.

As this show continues to gain momentum, SPEED may reconsider a late night Saturday airing for the remaining night races. With Darlington looming, Victory Lane is set for even more fireworks under the lights.

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41 comments:

Anonymous
said...

JD, you hit the nail on the head. Jimmy was outstanding tonight. He was able to articulate very clearly his viewpoint while explaining the nuances of close racing for a win in the closing laps. Later in the show his comment comparing mistakes he made in his racing days to that of Kyle's was priceless. Wish we could see more of that side of Jimmy rather than the many times he inarticulately puts his foot in his mouth, not thinking before he speaks. A side note, I know you don't do Wind Tunnel, but Dave was great tonight with the Jr/Kyle issue.

As good as it was it would have been even better after the race. I understand they want their block on Sunday night but what would be wrong with running it right after a Saturday night race and again Sunday evening. The folks who want it immediately are happy and the ones who want to go to bed and catch it later are happy.

As I posted on your other blog. I thought this was Jimmy's best show this year. From the first minute of the show he started. He took the bull by the horns tonight. Nice job Jimmy.Keep up the good work.

I don't agree with Spencer. That was just good, hard racing as Childress and Bowyer said. If the roles were reversed,nobody would even be talking about it. It's politically correct not to ever find fault with Junior. Kyle did the unforgiveable-he tangled with Junior. I didn't hear Junior apologize when he wrecked Kyle a couple of times in last year's Chase. The one incident at Talledega early in the race was so obvious that all three drivers on Monday night's Speed show with Despain said it was intentional.First we complain about boring races,then complain when they race hard.I guess its all right to race hard-as long as Junior's not on the losing end?

I was glad to hear Spencer call out DW on his PC comments. I'm sincerely tired of DW and his lovefest with Kyle. It's almost funny in that he did the same stuff with "Junebug" and it bugged me too. Now that Kyle's in a Toyota, DW can't get enough of him. I'd really like to have the race called in a professional manner, not with so much cheerleading. I thought Speed did a good job of presenting the post race stuff, but I agree that it would be really nice to have it right after the race and rerun it the next day.

Jimmy Spenser is no one to talk about disrespect. How many time in his career did he spin someone out? He got the name Mr. Excitement because he drove like Kyle Bucsh does except without the wins. I'm not a Kyle Busch fan and I thiink he should have backed up the corner and given alittle bit, but Spenser is not the person that should be calling him on it. I also don't like the lovefest that DW has for Kyle. Just call the race and comment on all the driver. No one said anything about Mikey, or if they did I missed it.

I was glad Jimmy finally got out what needed to be said. I love Jimmy because he does speak his mind. Kyle could have moved Jr. up the tract, but he chose to get into him enough to spin him - it was a perfect "pit maneuver". it was his choice and he doesn't care what the public thinks. He is so jeolous of Jr.'s status with the public that it gets to him - he is a loser even if he wins races. you give no respect, you get no respect.

Ritchie, 832am,Agree w/your comment on Jimmy. Every once and awhile it is always good to lighten up in ending a comment as you did, thanks. BTW, Kinky Friedman stills chews a cigar on The O'Reilly Factor and once and awhile on Imus in the morning.

Just good hard racing. 18 maybe should have backed off a little, maybe not. Ask yourself, would Mark Martin have charged that hard and caused a wreck, probably not. I was/am a 3 Car fan. He often said Martin was the "best pure race car driver". Now, do i like Kyle, NO...he's like his brother, he has no class. He's very talented, but he needs a "Jimmy Spencer" smack in the nose, which i think may come from someone in the future. But the wreck, just hard race'n. On to the next track..The Lady...

Although I am not sure I agree totally with everything Jimmy said the way he presented it made me much more accepting especially the respect part. His total focus and control as he gave his opinion really made him shine. Sometime Jimmy can go off and make himself look ridiculous and that's when I stop listening, I listened to him Sunday. I think part of the reason he was so focused is because Kyle's behavior reminds him of himself and he thinks he is too good of a driver to go down that same path. I wonder if we saw VL Sat night if everyones emotions would have been so high we wouldn't have been as willing to listen to the guys opinions. I also watched WT and many people there thought it was just a racing deal, it will be interesting to see what JR has to say next week on Trackpass. They did mention Mikey and I found it interesting that although Jimmy thought it was wrong he was less critical of MW. I guess that is becasue it wasn't for the win.

Unfortunately, due to a local power outage, I missed Victory Lane last night. I appreciate the column and comments to catch up on what happened.

I’ve always liked Jimmy, even when he says things that make me shake my head. :)

DW has a habit of getting on one theme and running it into the ground. A few seasons ago, it was “Tony Stewart must be parked” and now it is “Kyle Busch must be adored”. There were other drivers in between those two that I’ve forgotten. The sad thing is that most of the FOX crew follow right behind him and they should know better. Whenever they stop trying to come up with the right nickname for Kyle, I will be grateful.

Jimmy was right and Kenny Wallace was right there with him, putting his own terminology on the matter, but the sentiment was the same.

Frankly, I think the fact that Jimmy has actually done stupid, or ill-considered moves on the track distinctly qualify him to have an opinion. Has he not personally experienced the results of his actions? Can he appreciate consequences? I'd have to think so.

A driver of Kyle's caliber (which is darned high) only makes a "mistake" like that because he doesn't respect the leader or the other driver (take your pick) enough to care about what may be the result of that sort of banzai move. It's not driver error, it's a mental shrug and "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"

That is what Jimmy Spencer and Kenny Wallace were trying to articulate. It's a lack of respect for another driver and for the circumstance of the moment.

I enjoyed the show, and for once didn't fast forward through most of it. Spencer was in top form and I was impressed with Dillner's interviews of Earnhardt and Busch. But Dillner didn't ask Hamlin why he stopped on the track to bring out the yellow. I expected him to ask that and was disappointed he didn't. To me, that one question would have made the show perfect. (And it would have given Spencer and Wallace even more to talk about.) They were so fired up they didn't even do the usual lap-by-lap breakdown of the race to fill time!

in re: dilner/earnhardt exchange about the "noodle" comment? word is that the voice on the radio who made the comment to which dilner referred was, in fact, tony eury jr, not earnhardt, jr. granted, their voices can sound alike but i can't hear the word "noodle" coming out of dale's mouth. that's why earmhardt stated that dilner was trying to put words into his mouth. don't know where the confusion occurred but it is simultaneously funny and annoying. need to make certain one knows whom one is talking about before one addresses it with the driver, doncha' think?

Thank you Jimmy for finally calling DW to task. He and his Fox buddies have created a monster named Kyle Busch. The way they praise him for his wreckless, dangerous driving is only fueling his ego. As he said Friday night after the Nationwide race, he will wreck as may cars as it takes.

Hello, I have been on both sides of the love/hate thing with Jimmy. Tonight he was priceless!! Larry Mc started with 'truth' in the booth by saying Kyle's tires turned into Junior...and then the excuses and cover began. I won't go into the Toyota connection to one of the announcers. (I wonder if he knows how much he has undermined his own credibility in these past few months. No one likes to have their intelligence insulted.) Anyway, may the Good Lord smile on Jimmy and bless his heart and pockets! : ) Marybeth

now jimmy is the pot calling the kettle black.letssee how many did jimmy wreck in his caree.to many to count here.and remember a guy named dale sr. yea to many to count here also.that was good hard racing saturday night.

"Now I have to hear about respect? Jr. will never have as many wins as Kyle Busch."

Umm - doesn't Little E have eleven more wins than Little Busch? (17 vs. 6). Maybe you meant in the Nationwide series, where Jr. has a 22 to 14 lead in wins (and two championships) over Busch.

Regardless, Mr. Excitement continues to be a valuable addition to SPEED by saying just what he's thinking at the moment, unfiltered and unedited. He would not fit in at all at the "WWL in Sports" but that's nothing but good news for some of us racing fans who are quite happy to have him on SPEED.